Turning-gear for vehicles.



PATENTED JULY 4L, 1905.

J'. HUGHES. TURNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-.12.1905.

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Witneoaw ttozum PATENTEB JULY 4, 1905.

J. C. HUGHES.

TURNING GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.12.1905.

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l. MUGHE. TURNNG GEAR FOR VEHICLES.

APPLIUATION FILED APR. 12, 1905.

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turn BTTns Patented July di, 1905.

JOHN O. lilUGlflES, OF SOUTH OMAHA., NlilBRAllA.

"TUNNING-'GEAR FW VHILES..

SPECIFICATON forming' part of Letters Patent No. 794,018, dated July t, 19015.

Application filed April 12, 1905. Serial No. 255,129.

To all whom it 11i/(ty concern:

Allc it known that l, donn' O. .l-l'Uo nus, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Omaha, in the county oi' fllouglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useu ful improvements in rlurniiig-(ulears for Vehicles; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled .in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

',llhis .invention relates to improvements in turning-gears ior vehicles, and particularly to short-turning gears for motor-vehicles.

One oif the objects ol the invention is the construction of a running-gear for a vehicle which is capable oi' having its front wheels tilted as well as turned to diilerent positions synchronously with the tilting of the rear wheel.

Another object of the invention is the provision oi' means for vertically and longitudinally adjusting the stub-axles oi the front wheels synchronously with the vertical adjustment of the rear axle.

A lfurther object of the invention is wthe provision of peculiarly-coustructed guidingl means which is capable ol tiltingl all of the wheels ol'I the running-gear,

still furtherolyiect oi' the invention is the provision oil peculiarly-constructed guiding means 'lor movingI the wheels ol" the ruiminggear.

l/Vith these and other objectsin view the invention consists ol certain other novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements ol parts, as will be hereinafter fully ('lescribed, illustrated in the acconlpanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Vln the drawillgs, Vliigure l is a longitiulinal sectional View ol a mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention. llig. 2 is a top plan View of my :imprmfed mechanism. liig. 3 is a transverse sectional view oi the mechanism taken on line 3 3, Fig. l1. llig. l is a sectional 'fragmentary view oi the truck, showing in side elevation one of the front Stub-shafts and a wheel securmlythereto. Fig.

5 is a View in side elevation oi' one oi the stationary cam-plates.

Referring to the drawings by referencenumerals, 'I designates thc body of the truck, which is provided with pairs o l parallel downward extensions 2, formed upon the front thereof, and with pairs ol parallel downward extensions 3, 'formed upon the rear portion. Upon the liront of the body ol the truck there are secured semicylimlrical or segmental camplates ft and 5. Each ot the cam-plates is secured against movement upon the body l. Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the cam-plate Ll, which is constructed similarly to plate 5, is provided with a V[iat or beveled surface 6 and with an upper beveled surface 7 and a lower beveled surface 8. livoted between each pair of the parallel front extensions 2 are boxes 9, which are capable oli swinging between said extensions. lhe iront wheels l0 are jourualed upon the short stubshalts 11. The stub-shafts 11 are positioned within the boxes 12. The boxes 1Q are provided with cylindrical integral extensions 13, which project from the upper portion thereo'l. The extensions '13 are positioned within recesses formed in the movable boxes il. ,lft is to be noted that the stu b-shal'ts, owing to the structure oii boxes 9, may be both vertically and horizontally adjusted. '.lo obtain this movement oithe stub-shafts 1l, it s necessary to movably connect the saine with the calnsurlace ol plates el. and llo each oll the stub-shafts ll l lixedly secure an upwardlypr0.`l eeting arm ll, which is formed with a right-angled extension 15. .lhe right-angled extension l5 engages the umiersur'lace ol one ot the cani-plates. 'ihe right-angled or horizontal extension ol the arms let are capable ol traveling over the cam-surface oiA plates et and 5, causing vertical and lougilanlilntl movement ol the stub shalts or axles. Upon re Yl'crring to llig. 2 it will bc seen that theboxes El are secured to the parallel extensions 2, by means oi trunnions lo.

llorlued upon the rear portion olE the body olf the truck and directly above the rear axle isa central substantially rectangular extension i7 and parallel extensions or proioctions v neeted by a reach 43.

18 and 19. The extensions 17, 18, and 19 are provided with longitudinal grooves 20 for receiving tongue 21, formed upon slidable cam-plates 22. The cam-plates 22 are preferably rectangular in shape and are formed with elongated slots 23. The body portion 1 of the truck is provided with apertures 24, which register with the elongated slot 23 of the adjustable cam-plates 22. The body portion 3", from which project the parallel extensions 3, is formed with transverse parallel guide members 25. The guide members 25 are formed directly beneath that portion of the body of the truck carrying the adjustable cam-plates 2Q. At the extreme lower end of the parallel extensions 3 are pivotally-mounted boxes 26, cach of which is provided with a longitudinal aperture 27 for permitting of the outer sections 28 28 of the rear axle to be supported therein. Each of the sections Q8 is provided with a wheel 29. Fixedly secured to the inner end of each of the sections 28 is a box or extension 30, which is provided with a squared recess 31 for receiving the squared end of a section of the rear axle, constituting a shaft 32. The shafts 32 carry balls 33, which are supported within sockets formed upon the ends of the central section 35 of the rear axle. Square-shaped members 36 surround the central section 35 of the rear axle. Said members 36 are provided with trunnions 37, projecting from opposite sides thereof. rlhe trunnions 37 are positioned within elongated apertures 38, formed in the parallel integral extensions 39 of the vertically-adjustable bars 40, which are positioned between the parallel guide members 25 and within the apertured portions 24 of the body and which extend through the elongated slots 23 of the adjustable cam-plates Q2. Heads 41 are preferably formed integral upon the upper ends of the bars or vertically-movable members 40. The heads 41 engage the upper beveled surface of the adjustable plates Q2. Each of the adjustable plates 22 is provided with central level or flat `portions 6 and with beveled portions 7" and 8, similar to the beveled surface of the stationary front plates 4 and It will be obvious that each of the adjustable plates is provided with two surfaces of simi lar construction, this not being true of the stationary plates 4 and 5. The arms 15 are adjusted within segmental ways 15. The extensions 17, 18, and 19 constitute guiding means for the adjustable slotted plates 22.

The end portions 4Q of the body are con- The reach 43 comprises a substantially flat member, upon the Lipper surfaceof which are formed parallel extensions 44, constituting guiding means for slidable bars or members 45. Flexible means, as cables 46, connect the inner ends of the plates 2Q to the rear ends of the bars 45. The outer The cable 47 passes around revoluble members, as pulleys 48. Flexible means, as a cable 49, passes around revoluble members 50, 51, and 52. rlhe eable 49 is fixedly secured at 53 to the horizontal extensions or heads 15, so that when movement is imparted to said cable said head will be adjusted upon the cam plates 4 and 5. Synchronous with the adjustment of the extensions or heads 15 plates 22 will also be moved for vertically adjusting the movable members or bars 40.

If the extension or head 15, which engages the plate 5, is moved forward upon the same, the opposite extension or plate 15, engaging plate 4, will be moved rearward, and synchro nously with the movement of said extensions or heads 15 the right-hand plate 2Q will be drawn forward and the left-hand plate backward for tilting the sections of the rear axle, placing the rear wheels in parallel position at an angle to a vertical plane. Likewise with the movement of the extensions or heads 15 the front wheels will also be positioned in similar manner. Of course the front wheels will in addition to the same be turned upon the boxes 9.

I employ manually-actuated means for causing longitudinal movement of the bars 45. Journaled upon the reach 43 and between the parallel longitudinal projections 44 is a movable cam member 54, which is provided with a grooved roller'54. The roller 54u is of necessity secured in a fixed position relative to the cam member 54. A sleeve 54h is secured upon the front part of the truck and preferably upon the right-hand side of the end portion 4Q. Positioned within the sleeve 54" is a vertical rod 54, to which is fixedly secured a grooved annular member 54h. Passing around members 54LL and 54l is an endless belt 54e. The cam 54 is preferably grooved at 56 for facilitating the gripping of the traveling cables 57, constituting belts between the same and the bars 45. The cables 57 pass around grooved wheels 58, which are iixedly secured to the central section of the rear axle and over grooved pulleys. Between the grooved wheels 58 gear-wheel 6() is lixedly secured to the section 35 of the rear axle. Power is applied to the gear-wheel 60 for driving the rear axle and wheels 29.

Then it is desired to turn the vehicle to the right, it will be necessary to cause the cam member' 54 to engage the right-hand cable 57 and force the same against the ri ght-hand slidable bar 45 suliiciently to draw said bar forward, which will also move the right-hand plateQQ forward and the left-hand plate backward, as well as the right-hand extension or head 15 forward and the left-hand extension or head rearward. Then the right-hand head 15 is moved forward, it will raise the stub` axle and tilt the right-hand wheel outwardly, while the opposite wheel will be tilted inwardly through the medium of the stub axle IOO IXO

IIS

'manie or shalt and its vhead l5. lllith the adjustment ol the right-hand plate Q2, the righthand rear wheel will be tilted outwardly, While the opposite wheel will be swungl inwardly, sald rear wheels assuming' substantially the same parallel position as the lront wheels. ln addition to the tilting' ol the 'liront wheels they will also be adjusted longitudinally. .lt'will be obvious 'lrom the `lore5, 'oin,e' description that while the sections ol'I the rear axle are only adjusted vertically 'l'or tilting' the rear wheels, the 'liront stub axles or sha'l'ts are both vertically and lmie'itudinally adjusted tor not only tilting` said wheels, but turning' the same upon the lront boxes 9.

lhe end portions oli the truck are connected by parallel side bars or members 6l. (,)wing to the peculiar structure ot' the rear axle the central section will be tilted atan angle to a horizontal plane when the liront stub-axles are adjusted, and the outer sections Z8 ollv the rear axle will be j )ositiol'ied at an angle tothe plane in which the central section lies. lVhen :uljustment olE the central section olE the rear axle 'is had, the sha'lits 32 must be slightlyadjusted within the squared recess of the boxes always move in opposite directions when ad justed Vfor retaining' the rear wheels in parallel position when the same are tilted. Owing' to the structure ol the eam-plates ll; and 5 and their coaeting' members, the front wheels are also retained in parallel position irrespective ol the position in which they are tilted.

llf hat l claim isml. llfn amcchanismof the class described, the combination with a truck-body, ol' a sectional, rear axle carried by said body, wheels lixedly secured to said rear axle, means for adjusting' the sections ol said rear axle and tilting' the wheels thereo'l'I in parallel position, stub-axles secured near the liront of said truck-body, wheels journaled upon said stub-axles, and cam. means l'or permitting of the longitudinal and vertical adjustment of said stub-axles.

2. ln a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a truck-body, rear wheels secured to said body, means 'lj'or tilting' said rear wheels, longitudinallyauljustable front wheels securedto said truck member, and cam means coacting' with said front wheels lor permitting' ol' the same to be tilted.

3. The combination with a truck-body, ol.' tilting' rear wheels secured to said truclvlliody, liront wheels secured to said body, cam-plates carried by said body, and means engaging' said camq'ilates and ceac-ting' with said front wheels lor permitting-ot the tilting' and longitudinal movement oll the same.

4l. The combination with a truck-body, ol adjustable lront and rear wheels secured to said body, adjusting' means lor said lrontand rear wheels comprising stationary and movable cam members, upwardly-extcndine' meml`he vertically-adjustable members 4l() bers engaging' said cam members and connected to said wheels, and means for moving' said upwardly-extending members and some ot' said cam members.

5. The combination with a truck-body, ol axles provided with upwardly extending` members carried by said truck-body, wheels carried by said axles, and stationary and movable cam members engaging' said uj'iwardlyextendingl member, and capable of causing adjustment ol' said axles.

6. The combination with a trucl -body, of axles carried thereby, wheels carried by said axles, cam-plates carried by said truck-body, and means connecting said cam-plates and axles and capable o'l permitting' ol the tilting' et said axles.

7. The combination with a truck-body, of a sectional rear axle carried thereby, wheels lixedly secured to said rear axle. stub-axles carried by said truck-body, wheels journaled upon said stub-axles, stationary and adjustable cam members carried by said body, means connecting' said adjustable members and rear axle, means connecting' said stub-axles and stationary cam members, llexiblc means cennecting' said adjustalfilc cam members, conneeting means lor said stub-axles and stati onary cam n'iembers, end less traveling' means positioned upon said rear axle and the truckbody, and means engaging' said endless travcling' means, 'For causing' the same to coperate with the liexible means lor moving' ol the same.

8. The combination with a truck-body, adjustablc wheels secured thereto, of adjustable and stationary cam plates carried by said truck-body, u pward ly-extend i ng headed members engaging' said cam-plates and coacting with said wheels, horizontal members connecting' said adjustable cam-plates and some ol said headed members, and cam and endless traveling means for causing' movement ol said horizontal members.

9. lhe combination with a truck-bod y and adjustable axles, wheels carried by said axles, ol: stationary and adjustable, horizontal cam members carried by said truck-bod y and means connecting' said axles to said cam members, and capable of permitting' ol the adjustment o'lE said axles.

Ill). The combination with a truck-body, stub-axles carried by said t1'1:ick-body, wheels carried by said axles, of cam-plates lixedly secured to said lrame, upwardly-cxtending means secured to said stu lyaxles and connected to said cam-plates, adjustable cam-plates carried by said truck-body, ujiwardly-extemling means connecting' said adjustable cam-plate and sectional axle, and means lier adjusting' the upwardly-extending' means of said stubaxles and the adjustable cam-plates.

ll. The combination with a truclel'iody, el liront and rear axles carried thereby, adjustable cam means for moving said axles in a vertical plane, and means for longitudinally adjusting said front axle.

12. The combination with a truck-body, front and rear axles carried by said body, Wheels carried by said axles, of endless traveling means passing around said rear axle, and means coaeting with said endless traveling' means for vertically adjusting said rear axle and causing longitudinal and vertical movement of said front axle.

13. The combination with a truck-body, front and rear axles carried by said truckbody, of endless traveling` means positioned upon said truck-body and passing around one of said axles, stationary and adjustable cam means carried by said truck-body, means connecting said axles with said cam means, and means connecting said adjustable and stationary cam means and said axles and coacting with said endless traveling means for adjusting said axles.

14. The combination with a truck-body, front and rear axles carried by said body, wheels carried by said axles, of stationary camplates secured to said truck-body, slotted, movable cam-plates carried by said body, means connecting said front axles to said stationary cam-plates, means extending through the slotted portion of said adjustable plates and secured to said rear axle, and means for moving' said adjustable plates and said axle-connecting means engaging the stationary plates.

15. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a truck-body, of stubaxles secured to said truck-body, a sectional axle secured to said truck-body, Wheels secured to said stub-axles, upwardly-extending headed members secured to said axles, means for vertically moving the upwardly-extending members secured to said rear axle, and means for longitudinally and vertically moving said upwardly-extending members secured to said front or stub axles.

16. In a mechanism of the class described, the combination with a truck-body, ot' a sectional rear axle secured to said body, wheels tixedly secured to the outer sections of said rear axle, stub-axles secured to the front por- `tion of said truck-body, stationary, segmental cam-plates secured in a horizontal position upon said truck-body, each of said cam-plates provided with a fiat and beveled surfaces, upwardly-extending, slidable, headed members engaging said cam-plates and secured to said stub-axles, headed members secured to said rear axle, slidable cam-plates carried by said truck-body and engaging the head members secured to said sectional axle, said slidable plate provided with a fiat and beveled surfaces, iexible means connecting said slidable plates and the headed members secured to said stub-axles, endless traveling means mounted upon said truck and passing around said rear axle, and means for causing said endless traveling means to coact with said flexible means for adjusting the headed members secured to said stub-axles upon said stationary plates, and causing' movement of said slidable plates.

17. The combination with a truck-body, front and rear axles carried by said body, Wheels carried by said axles, of extensions projecting at an angle from said axles, and cam means engaging' said extensions for permitting ofthe vertical adjustment ot' said rear axle and of vertical and longitudinal adjustment of the front axle.

18. The combination With a truck-body, wheels carried thereby, segmental and substantially rectangular cam-plates carried by said body, and means coaeting with said camplates and Wheels for permitting of the adjustment of said wheels.

19. The combination with a truck-body, wheels assembled with said body, of stationary, segmental cam -plates secured to said body, substantially rectangular cam-plates movably mounted upon said truck-body, and means connecting said plates and wheels and capable oi' permitting of the adjustment of said wheels. Y

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN C. HUGHES.

litnesscsz Y E. L. CHAMBERS, VM. HUGHES. 

